Vapor condenser for automobile radilators



' Feb. 23 1926 1,574,629 K. w. E. HAMANN VAPOR CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILE HADIATORS I Filed Feb. 4, 1925 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY. I I I z Patented Feb. 23, I926.

UNITE STTES KURT W. E. HAMANN, OF TRUMB'ULL, CONNECTICUT.

VAPOR CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS.

Application filed February 4, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KURT IV. E. HAMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at i.rumbull, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor Condensers for Automobile Radiators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to condenser devices and pertains particularly to a device adapted to be screwed into the filling opening of an automobile radiator in place of the cap ordi narily used to close same.

The primary object of this invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a condenser device designed for use in connection with automobile radiators which will receive the vapor formed in the radiator and to condense the same and return the condensed vapor to the radiator for further use.

This device is especially serviceable when the radiator upon which it is used contains alcohol or other highly volatile liquid ordinarily mixed with the water contained in the radiator to prevent the freezing thereof for the alcohol or other easily volatile liquid mixed with water of the radiator is quickly vaporized and lost by its escape into the atmosphere and must frequently be replenished unless it can be caught, condensed and returned to the radiator for further use as it would be when a device of the kind herein to be set forth is employed.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a condenser device adapted to be inserted into the filling opening of an automobile radiator and designed to receive vapors from the radiator and condense the same to return the vapor in a condensed form to the radiator and further having means whereby the vapor which may not be condensed in the condenser proper will be passed through a cooling coil before its return to the radiator thereby assuring condensation of the same.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a condenser device adapted to be used in connection with automobile radiators having an air relief device associated therewith, this relief device being ordinarily sealed by the fluid which is condensed and collected in the condenser but acting as an expansion valve or.in the nature of the well Serial No. 6,804.

known thistle tube to compensate for any undue amount of pressure which might occur within the condenser in the event that the vapor is issuing-from the radiator or generated faster than the condenser can operate to condense and return the liquid to the radiator; I

A further and final object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a condenser device adapted to be inserted into the filling opening of an automobile radiator to receive the vapors therefrom, condense the same and return them to the radiator, having few parts, eas ily taken down and cleaned, durable and reliable in operation, neat and attractive in appearance and inexpensive to manufacture and set up.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device embodying this invention, its fore portion thereof being shown in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views, the device comprises a main metallic body portion 1 being providedat points inwardly of each end with the annular flanges 2 and 3 respectively. That portion between the flange 2 and the end of the body is peripherally threaded as indicated at 4: and is adapted to be threaded into the filling opening of the radiator of an automobile. That portion of the body 1 lying between the flange 3 and the adjacent end of the body is provided with interior threads 5.

The body portion 1 as shown is tubular and has a partition 6 therein which closes the body inwardly of the upper end thereof and substantially in a plane with the annular flange 3.

A condensing globe 7 is provided which is preferably formed of heavy glass and is bulbous and hollow as shown and this globe merges into and is formed integral with a neck portion 8 which is provided with peripheral threads 9 as shown. This threaded neck portion 8 is threaded into the upper portion of the body 1 and engages the threads 5 formed therein. The interior diameter of the neck 8 is substantially the same as the diameter of the tubular body portion, and the partition 6 forms a closure for the open end of the neck 8 as well as for the body portion 1.

Opening through the top of the partition 6 are three apertures, one of which extends directly through the partition and opens through the lower side thereof, and'through this aperture there extends a vertical tube 10 the upper end of which extends a slight distance into the globe 7 as shown and through this tube a communication is set up between the globe 7 and the space into which the lower portion of the body 1 opens.

The other two passages which open through the top of the partition 6 pass downwardly and outwardly therethrough and open through the outer side of the body 1 and through one of these passages abent portion 11 of a tubular coil 12 extends, the coil being'wrapped about the central portionof the body 1'. The terminal upper, end of the tubular coil extends upwardly from the top of the partition 6 as at- 18 and terminates within the globe 7 in the same plane as the vertical tube 10. The lower portion or end 1 4 of the coil 12 extends through a passage formed through the wall of the body 1. at a point adjacent the lower flange 2 and opens upon the inner side of the body portion as shown.

Extending into the other downwardly and outwardly opening passage is one end of a goose neck tube 15. The other .end ofthis' tube is directed upwardly and carries there on a double cone shaped body member constituting an air relief device 16. Adjacent the upper end or apex of this double cone shaped body 16 there are formed relief or outlet apertures 17, and extending transversely of the inner side of the body at the central portion thereof is a bafiie plate 18 which is also provided with apertures 19 which allowcommunication between the upper and lower portions of the device.

The tube or goose neck 15 has an insulating coating of felt or asbestos as indicated at 20 which coating acts to prevent liquid in the tube from freezing during cold weather..

The plate 18 in. the air relief device 16 is in. substantially the same plane as the contents of the tube 10 and 13.

Inthe operation of. this device, a radiator cap ordinarily used to close the filling opening of an automobile radiator is removed and the threaded portion at of this de vice inserted into the opening and secured in position. When the engine has become sufii ciently heated. to heat the water in the radiator and vaporize the same, the vaporized liquid will pass up through the body portion 1 and into the glass condensing globe 7 through the tubes 10 and 13. The air contained in the globe will be forced therefrom due to the entrance of the heated vapor, through the tube 15 and through the air relief device 16. The vapor striking the inner surface of the glass globe will be cooled and condensed and the liquid formed will flow down and settle in the lower portion of the neck 8 filling the same and filling the goose neck and the lower portion of the air relief device 16. hen the liquid resulting from condensation of the vapor has reached the upper end of the tubes 10 and 13, it will then flow back into the radiator through these tubes and through the coil 12 and during the passage back to the radiator through the coil 12 will be further cooled by the absorption of the heat carried thereby by the coil 12. In the passage of the vapor coming from the radiator through the coil 12, it will be condensed in the coil and flow back without entering the globe, complete condensation of the vapors being thus brought about.

Should it happen that the vapors coming from the radiator into the condensing globe accumulate so as to set up any material amount of pressure in the globe, this pressure will cause the fluidto rise in the air relief device 16 thereby relieving the pressure in the globe sulliciently to prevent the rupture thereof and to allow time for condensation action to take place and further relieve the pressure by the return of the condensed vapors t0 the radiator.

t is of course understood that before this device is placed in position in the radiator filling opening the overflow tube usually provided in the radiators for taking care of overflow and vapor pressure in the radiator, is plugged up so the only escape for the vapor generating in the radiator is into the condenser device attached to the filling opening.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that there has been provided a unique and novel radiator device which will be both efficient and durable, and also serve as an attractive ornament for the front of the vehicle.

Having thus'deseribed my invention, what I claim is 1, A condenser device of the" type described, oomprising a tubular body member having one end threaded for insertion into the filling opening. of an automobile radi ator, and further having. a partition formed upon the interior thereof to divide the same nto an upper and lower compartment, means to provide a condensing chamber threadably secured in said upper compartment, a vapor tube extending through said partition for the admission of vapor to said condensing chamber from the radiator, an auxiliary condenser tube having one end extended through said partition in the said chamber and having its other end opening downwardly into said radiator opening to convey condensed liquid back into said radiator from said chamber and further acting to condense any vapor not condensed in said chamber, and an air relief device leading from the lower portion of said chamber and opening into the atmosphere.

2. A condenser device of the type described, comprising a tubular body portion having one end threaded for insertion into the filling opening of an automobile radiator and further having a partition formed across the interior thereof dividing the same into an upper and lower compartment, a globular condensing chamber having a neck extending therefrom and adapted to be threadably secured to the said upper portion of the body, a vapor tube leading from the lower portion of the body into the upper portion and opening into said chamber, an auxiliary condenser device comprising a tubular coil wrapped about the exterior 0 said body having one end extended theretbrough and i 7 opening into said condenser chamber and having its other end extending through the lower end thereof and opening into said radiator opening, and an air relief device leading from the lower portion of said condensing chamber to the body and opening into the atmosphere.

3. A condenser device of the type described, comprising a body portion adapted to have one end threaded into an automobile radiator filling opening, a transparent condenser globe supported upon the other end of said body, means for conveying vapors from the radiator through said body into said globe, an auxiliary cooler and condenser tube surrounding said body and leading from the interior of said globe into the lower end of said body to discharge condensed vapors from said globe back into said radiator, a combined air relief and pressure expansion device leading from the lower portion of said condenser globe through said body, and an expansion chamber at the outer terminal end of said expansion device, adapted to receive a portion of the condensed vapors from the condenser globe, in the event that the pressure therein reaches a dangerous point.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

KURT W. E. HAMANN. 

